NASA's Orion crew capsule, built at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, left Belle Chasse by plane Monday (Feb. 1) for the latest leg in its years-long journey toward deep space. The capsule was flown to Kennedy Space Center in Florida where the larger space flight vehicle will be assembled.

NASA spokeswoman Rachel Kraft said the plane carrying the Orion capsule took off from Naval Air Station Reserve Base in Belle Chasse around noon on Monday. It arrived in Florida around 3 p.m.